25 



At the peace in 1783, the whole subject of the French rights of fish- 

 ing was examined and arranged. As will be seen, several important 

 changes were made, and explanations exchanged, by the two contract- 

 ing powers. It may be observed, further, that the new fishing-grounds 

 acquired were thought less valuable than those which she rehnquished, 

 though the privileges obtained by France, considered together, were 

 much greater than those provided in the treaty of 17G3. The articles 

 which relate to the subject in the treaty, and in the " declaration" and 

 " counter declaration," or separate articles, are as follows : 



"Art. 2. His Majesty the King of Great Britain shall preserve 

 in full right the island of Newibundland and the adjacent islands, in 

 the same manner as the whole was ceded to him by the 13th article of 

 the treaty of Utrecht, save the exceptions stipulated by the 5th article 

 of the present treaty. 



"Art. 3. His Most Christian Majesty, [of France,] in order to 

 prevent quarrels, which have hitherto arisen between the two nations 

 of England and France, renounces the ri"ht ot fisliins:, which belono-s 

 to him by virtue of the said article of the treaty of Utrecht, from Cape 

 Bonavista to Cape St. John, [Point Riche,] situated on the eastern 

 coast of Newf()undland, in about fifty degi'ees of north latitude ; wdiereby 

 the French fishery shall commence at the said Cape St. .John, [Point 

 Riche,] shall go round by the north, and, going down to the western 

 coast of the island ot Newfoundland, shall have lor boundary the place 

 called Cape Ra}^, situated in forty-seven degrees fifty minutes latitude. 



" Art. 4. The French fishermen shall enjoy the fishery assigned 

 them by the foregoing article, as they have a right to enjoy it by virtue 

 of the treaty of Utiecht. 



" Art. 5. His Britannic Majesty wnll cede, in full right, to his Most 

 Christian Majestv the islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. 



"Art. 6. With regard to the right of fishing in the Gulf of St. Law- 

 rence, the French shall continue to enjoy it conformably to the 5th 

 article of the treaty of Paris," [1763.] 



In the "declaration" on the part of Great Britain, it is said that — 



"In order that the fishermen of the two nations may not give cause 

 for daily quarrels, his Britannic Majesty will take the most positive 

 measures for preventing his subjects from interrupting, in any manner, 

 by their competition, the fishery of the French, during the temporary 

 exercise of it which is gi-anted to them, upon the coasts of the island 

 of Newfoundland ; and he will, for this purpose, cause the fixed settle- 

 ments which shall be formed there to be removed. 



" His Britannic Majesty will give orders that the French fishermen 

 he not incommoded in cutting the wood necessary for the repair of their 

 scaffolds, huts, and fishing-vessels. The 13th article of the treaty of 

 Utrecht, and the method of carrying on the fishery which has at all 

 times been acknowledged, shall be the plan upon which the fishery shall 

 be carried on there. It shall not be deviated from by either party — the 

 French fishermen building only their scaffolds, confining themselves to 

 the repo r nf their fishing- vessels, and not wintering there ; the subjects 

 of his Eiitann'c Majesty, on their part, not iiiolesting, in any manner, 

 the Fren h fi? ermen during their fishing, nor injuring their scaffolds 

 during tlieir absence. The King of Great Britain, in ceding the islands 



